Pat Cooper How Dare You Say How Dare Me! [Hardcover]

Pat Cooper (Author), Rich Herschlag (Author), Steve Garrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2010

Few comics today can say they have worked with the likes of George Burns, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Bobby Darin--but Pat Cooper can. Born Pasquale Caputo, the legendary comedian didn't break into show business until age thirty-two. But from that moment in 1963, when the young smart-mouthed Brooklynite was beamed into millions of homes via the Jackie Gleason Show, people across the country knew that they were seeing something special. Brash, irreverent, and undeniably hilarious, his view of what was happening around him has always been honest, unyielding, and colored by his comedic anger. And now, in Pat Cooper: How Dare You Say How Dare Me! he shares the amazing, often bizarre story of his life.

In his unique no-holds-barred style, Cooper begins his story at the beginning--as a child growing up under the strict hand of an Italian immigrant father. He shares memorable, typically comical moments from his youth, including his mother's pepper-and-egg sandwiches that left trails of oil on his brown bag lunches, the loss of his virginity to a middle-aged yenta, and his efforts to join the military at age seventeen--only to be kicked out for having hammer toes! A seventh-generation bricklayer by trade, Pat recounts performing his stand-up routine in small clubs and theaters at night--until he got his big break into the big time. From that point on, Pat pulls no punches in relating story after story of his life as a top entertainer, including the good, the bad, and the funny! From Las Vegas to Atlantic City and everywhere in between, it's all here.

Still every bit as brash, irreverent, and hilarious as he ever was, Pat Cooper proves in this very truthful autobiography that one can succeed in show business without being phony--just as long as you learn to duck, and you're not too surprised when you're fired. (Hey, one door closes and another opens.) Like his sold-out live shows, How Dare You Say How Dare Me! will leave you roaring!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cooper begins his spirited memoir by discussing his early Italian family life in Brooklyn and his debut on the Fox Amateur Hour radio show, where his impressions won him first prize. He left school and worked as a brick layer and longshoreman before being drafted into the Army, and was the "man of the house" in his early 20s when his parents divorced and his father was mostly absent. Without much encouragement, Cooper never stopped performing, whether on the corner or at neighborhood events, and finally got his big break, at 30, on The Jackie Gleason Show. The Atlantic City and the Vegas of the Rat Pack era followed, with Cooper gaining notoriety as an "angry" comic; his routines were full of harsh wit that often cut close to home. Calling broadcasting the truth his version of therapy, Cooper cemented his status with regular appearances on The Howard Stern Show in the late '80s. But beneath the loud and relentless shtick was the darker side typical of many funny men, and he discusses strained relationships with his children, including a daughter who once called in to Stern's radio show to attack him. Still going strong at 80, Cooper believes "...in getting things out of my system," so the warts-and-all approach to his autobiography will come as no surprise to fans.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Cooper has worked with big names from George Burns to Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese to Jerry Seinfeld, with an honest and irascible style that hasn’t always endeared him to egotistic performers. In this memoir foreworded by Jerry Lewis, Cooper details the root of his sense of humor. He was born Pasquale Caputo to an immigrant Italian family. He recalls Depression-era memories of growing up in Brooklyn, where he was expected to follow the legacy of six generations of bricklayers. He recalls early family discord and an array of low-paying jobs, particularly driving a cab while starting a career as a comic in small clubs and theaters. His big break came in 1963 with an appearance on The Jackie Gleason Show, when his brash style launched a career that would take him coast to coast, from Las Vegas to Atlantic City. He is brutally frank about run-ins with the stars and his own efforts to shun the ego-game-playing that is a part of entertainment. Photographs enhance this funny and revealing look at a comic’s life. --Vanessa Bush

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 262 pages
• Publisher: Square One Publishers (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075700363X
• ISBN-13: 978-0757003639
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #482,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An Inaccurate, Incomplete and Sad Memoir, February 21, 2011

By 

LF - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pat Cooper How Dare You Say How Dare Me! (Hardcover)

This review is now posted for the second time (March 16, 2011). I guess the contents of the review and all the discussion that followed as a result of its original post was not what the authors expected. This just gives more credence to what is written and the power of Truth.

It is with mixed emotions that this review is posted. It is posted not from a need to prove or defend the truth but rather as an obligation to heighten the awareness of those readers who may innocently be unaware.

For many years Pat Cooper has used his family as a source of material for his act. It publically became acceptable for him in this context to embellish the truth as a source of entertainment for his audience. However, when one decides to write a memoir it is supposed to be an accurate account of life experiences. It is necessary that readers be made aware that throughout the book the author presents many misconceptions with respect to his earlier family relationships and experiences. As one who lived through many of the experiences, I would have to say that Pat Cooper's book, How Dare You Say How Dare Me, presents its readers with a perspective that is very much from the truth. Somehow in his memoir, Pat Cooper has chosen to eliminate some very significant events that should have been recounted in order for the reader to see what truly makes him "tick." The authors' use of sensationalism throughout the book is used as a tool to entice the reader's interest and curiosity. Perhaps the authors would like to add the following reflection as an epilogue to insure the memoir is presented with more accuracy.

It was truly an unfortunate experience that both my brother Michael and I lived through. The impact of the experience has affected each of our lives in different ways. Sometimes the true reason as to why things happen is clouded by what we imagine they could have been. Through the years, and by being a mother, I have come to the realization that it would be impossible for anyone to even begin to try to rationalize the cowardice actions of any man, under any circumstances, who could turn away from his biological children and then in turn adopt another. I have rather learned that it was necessary to alter my expectations in order to truly accept and understand the emotional limitations and hypocritical actions of this man. In the words of Martin Luther King; "the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Through the years, this man has consistently demonstrated that for whatever reason, he was only capable of achieving the emotional ability to stand as a dark shadow in our lives. I am sadly comforted in a sense to have come to accept that to have had a father who was filled with such anger and negative energy in my life would have probably been more toxic. It is ironic that through it all the one thing that we both learned from an absent father and a very present and loving mother and grandmother was the true blessings of a family. It is really a shame for him that he was not only unwilling to share in all our wonderful memories and accomplishments, but also missed out on all the genuine love that truly bonds OUR FAMILY together. These are things WE will always have, as they are TRUTHS within our heart. There is NOTHING that can take them away... not even the DECEPTIVE WORDS IN HIS BOOK. A person can only hide behind an image for so long. Eventually, in time, the truth somehow always manages to shine through. My brother Michael's book, Dear Pat Cooper, is the ONLY one that has helped to make that happen. I know... I was there, too!

So to the co-authors of this book and one of their uninformed wives,(who have since removed their own reviews in order to eliminate the TRUTHFUL AND UNFAVORABLE comments that followed) and to ANYONE else who feels compelled to conjecture on what they perceive as being truth, since you were NOT there you have no basis to offer any opinion. Your perceptions are clearly only based on the false image that Pat Cooper has portrayed to you through the years. Therefore, please do not be so bold as to make suggestions as to offering this man unconditional love. Sadly, the time for that has long passed and it was something Pat Cooper should have offered his children and family many years ago. No matter how loud he bellows trying to convince himself and the world otherwise... the truth is... HE NEVER TRIED TO BE OUR FATHER. He instead substituted by adopting another child and harbored resentment for those who tried to help him acknowledge his responsibilities as a father to his two biological children. I guess that was easier.... to be a coward and turn away. Perhaps maybe these actions were not totally generated by him but rather from the fear, possessiveness and insecurity harbored by his new wife and family. This is something I will neither ever know, nor does it have any significance in justifying any of his prior actions. However, there is one thing I do know and it is that; Children may not always remember what you said, but they will always remember the way you made them feel. The feelings that this man has left us with are not those of anger, but rather pity. It is so pitiful that Pat Cooper has invested so much energy in trying to blame others and make excuses for all of his poor choices, that sadly his entire life has passed by without knowing and experiencing the love of both his beautiful biological children and family. It is incomprehensible to even begin to imagine how a SON could lack compassion and refuse to reconcile with his own loving MOTHER. It is even more pitiful that his egocentrical personality has blinded him to be able to see or acknowledge that through the years it wasn't only all about him and his feelings. He sadly doesn't even realize that his constant "saga" of personal persecution which he continually reveals throughout the book consistently portrays him as an insensitive, selfish and lonely sole. It seems that Pat Cooper is always throwing a perpetual tantrum about things that didn't go his way. He appears to be a man who was never happy in either his personal or professional life. It is really quite sad that at this point in his life he still has a need to publically justify his actions and ridicule his family. Perhaps maybe he still yearns to somehow be connected and this is unfortunately the only way he knows how. I guess it is true that "nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt". It's quite ironic that even though he dismissed himself from any part of my life, I still, in a sense; somehow feel sorry for the man. As I have said; I have learned to accept his emotional limitations, but realistically I will always be disheartened by all the anger and resentment he still possesses about two innocent children and a wonderful loving mother he never had the courage or took the time to know. I am thoroughly relieved that both my brother and I are VOID of this gene!!

In conclusion here are some final words for the man who fathered me and (oh...yes... I must not forget to acknowledge the one obligation that he actually fulfilled) .... to the man that paid the meager court ordered child support for me so many years ago...maybe you need to seriously reflect on these words from your book, "When I'm standing in front of a microphone, I may seem angry, but I'm not in a hate mode. I'm angry because of the sadness. There's so much of it, and most of it is what we do to each other. When I'm ranting and raving up there, I'm releasing sadness. I'm saying that if we talk about it--or yell about it--maybe we can turn that sadness into laughter." For years you have made others laugh, but to those like myself who know the truth, your memoir exposes the most significant tragedy of Pasquale Caputo's life which is that you still have not yet been able to release all the sadness that dwells inside your own heart. I truly hope that your personal torment will someday end and that you can face the truth to free yourself of all the anger and anxiety that has so totally consumed you for your entire life. It is only then that genuine love, happiness and laughter will find their way into your heart. It's not too late....you should try it....... it is a wonderful feeling... I've felt it for years!!!

25 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars DEAR PAT COOPER, December 21, 2010

By 

Michael Caputo "PAT COOPER'S SON" (FOREST HILLS, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pat Cooper How Dare You Say How Dare Me! (Hardcover)

Dear Pat Cooper,

- Congratulations on your book. Thanks for mentioning me a couple of times. Now I know we really are related even though you had a few inaccuracies and loveless things to say about our family.

- Overall the book is quite comical and I expected that. I particularly enjoyed the "back stories" and interactions you had with various legends in your business. They were awesome! What you said about some of them wasn't.

- When I was done reading your story I kinda felt sorry for you. Sorry because a memoir is supposed to be a cathartic experience. There is nothing in your book that even suggests that you've worked through your 'anger' and 'sour grapes' that you still have with our family and half the people in show business.

- With all that being said, the part that really saddened me the most was the fact that the closest you'll ever get to me is here on Amazon & Kindle right next to my book, "Dear Pat Cooper." Dear Pat Cooper: What happened to my father Pasquale Caputo?

- God Bless, :)
Michael Caputo, Pat Cooper's Son

14 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Real Family Talking, February 16, 2011

By 

Maria - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pat Cooper How Dare You Say How Dare Me! (Hardcover)

..... Being that Pat Cooper is my Uncle, and I'm Gracie's (Pat's oldest sister) daughter, I felt the need to read his book, and post an honest review. I had been in touch with him for a good part of my adult life, went to see him whenever he was playing in my area, in spite of him not speaking to my mother (and I may add, she never did anything to deserve it, in fact she tried many times to talk sense into him).

..... Now let me digress. The last time I heard from him, was about 7 yrs ago. The reason he called me was that he wanted some copies of family photos for a book he was writing about his life and our family. He also said he was going to blast the family in it. He also told me that he would cut the faces of the family members out of the photos and use them in his book. In his recently published book there is a photo of him as a toddler with my mother and SHE has been cut out. I was so shocked when he revealed what he was going to do with the pictures if I had decided to give them to him. I could not betray my family so I declined. If he had called and requested them with a pure motive perhaps for his own personal use, I would have given them to him. After that, I never heard from him again.

.....So, I started reading his book a few weeks ago. From the first page I was appalled as the family I know and knew were not the same people depicted in his book. I can only speak about the parts about our wonderful family and the situations he describes may have happened, but some of the details are false and negatively embellished upon. I recall some of these "stories" from my mother Gracie who was his closest sister to him growing up. After reading the first couple of chapters, I had to consult with her about it and she confirmed what I already knew. The story about the Amateur Hour happened, but my Grandmother asked him to go with my mother to protect her, and he did end up singing and won. But his version says my Grandparents were there and were very angry he won and that is simply NOT true. He seems to have had a persecution complex and that he was always picked on by his parents. He in fact was known by his family as a lier and a story teller, and was always doing something for attention. My mother was always standing up for him because he was always getting beat up.

..... He portrays His Father, my Grandfather, as a foul mouthed man, but he was a very mild mannered man, quiet and reserved but loving and kind. My Grandmother was very outspoken ( the apple doesn't fall too far...) and had no problem speaking her mind, but had very little tolerance for injustice. She adored her family, was loyal, loving and very generous to a fault. Apparently he seems to be the only one who experienced negative things with OUR family, and no one else did. It has to make you think, doesn't it?? The anger and jealousy that he seems to have with other colleagues is exactly the same as he expresses toward his family. I think it speaks volumes, and shows why he wrote this book. As no family is perfect, I can speak from many years of being in our family that the family he speaks of in his book is just another FICTITIOUS STORY just like the family he portrayed on stage. That family didn't exsist, and neither did the family in his book.

..... I'm sorry Uncle Pat that you didn't want to experience all that we did, and you missed out on a lot, including a relationship with your sister Grace who has recently tried to contact you. It has been you who ALWAYS turned your back on her and the rest of the family including your blood children. So I decided to post this on the Anniversary of your Mother's death, 13 yrs ago.

..... THIS IS FOR YOU GRANDMA. WE ALL LOVE YOU, MISS YOU, AND MAY YOU FOREVER REST IN PEACE!